David f



(No Model.)

D. F. GRIFFITHS.

PACKING CASE.

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INVENTOI? WITNESSES: 77

A TTOHNE Y8.

DAVID F. GRIFFITHS,

TEN Fries.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PACKING-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,407, dated March 27, 1894:.

Application filed November 18.1892. Serial No. 452,401. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, DAVID F. GRIFFITHS, of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Packing-Cases, (Case 13,) of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in packing cases, and has for its object to construct the packing case in such manner that after its parts have been nailed or screwed together the parts can not be separated without evidence being given that the said parts have been tampered with.

Another object of the invention is to con struct a packing case in such manner that the nails, screws or other like fastening devices employed will be entirely concealed, and whereby further the concealing medium will serve as a brace or tie for the box.

Another object of the invention is to construct the box in such manner that when the top is placed on it and fastened securely in position, the fastening devices will be concealed by the same medium employed for concealing equivalent devices at the sides and bottom of the box, and whereby also the concealing medium may be fastened at the top in such a way that its ends can not be separated without evidence being given that some one has attempted to open the box.

A further feature of the invention consists in constructing a box embodying all the advantages above set forth, and which may be made practically at the same cost as an ordinary strong packing case.

The invention consists in the novelconstruction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved packing case, a portion of one corner being broken away to better illustrate the construction thereof; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the packing case, partly in section, the section being taken essentially on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Each board or series of boards 10, which constitutes a side or an end of a box, is provided near each end with a transverse groove or channel 11, which channel is undercut at its sides; and the board or boards A, which are to constitute the top of the box, are provided with a like groove, the grooves that are produced in the top boards being adapted to register with the grooves in the side boards, and the grooves in the side boards of the box are to register with the grooves produced in the bottom, as when the box is completed and the top is on, the grooves 11 are to extend continuouslyaround the entire box, one groove at each end. These grooves are designed to receive metal straps 12, and each end groove receives one strap, the strap being of sufficient length to extend all around the box and overlap at the top. The metal straps may be of any design, or the straps may be of any other material than metal if in practice it is found desirable, but thewidth of the straps is such that they may be entered into the grooves or channels 11, and when so entered will extend in the undercut portions of them. At the bottom of the box, at each side, the grooves 11 are enlarged in order that the straps may be inserted into said grooves.

The parts of the box when placed together are nailed, screwed or otherwise attached to each other, and the fastening devices are driven through the grooved portions of the parts, so that when the straps are placed in the grooves none of the nails, screws or other devices employed are visible, and access to them can notbe obtained until the strap is removed.

In the top of the box, preferably at the central portion of each groove or channel 11, the sides are enlarged or recessed to produce cavities preferably of a circular form. Each of these cavities is adapted to receive a seal 13 of a soft metal, preferably lead, and each seal is provided with an opening 14, extending through it from side to side. After the top of the box has been nailed to the body, the ends of the strap attached to the body are passed into and through the channels in the top, and then one end over the other through the openings 14 in the seals. When this has been accomplished the seals are flattened or compressed in any approved manner, thus binding the ends of the straps together, and it is evident that it will be utterly impossible to remove either strap and withdraw any of the fastening devices without consuming considerable time and evidencing the fact that the box has been tampered with, but after the box has reached its destination and is about to be unpacked by an authorized person the straps may be readily removed.

A box constructed as above set forth is exceedingly strong, as in addition to the usual fastening devices the straps serve as braces or ties for the several parts of the box, and after the straps have been carefully removed from the top of the box, the box may be again utilized for packing.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A box or packing case having a continuous dovetail or undercut groove at each end surrounding the box or case, the grooves being produced in those portions of the box or case through which the nails or other fastening devices are driven, a tie or strengthening strap located in the grooves and of sulficient width to be held by the undercut portion,the

ends of the said straps passing through a seal adapted to be compressed upon them, the said strap covering the heads of the nails or screws used in securing the parts together thus preventing them from becoming loosened, sub stantially as described.

2. A box or packing case having a continuous groove at each end surrounding the box, the side walls whereof are undercut, the grooves being produced in those portions of the box through which the fastening devices are driven, a tie or strengthening strap fitting in said grooves, and of sufficient width to be held by the undercut portion, the grooves being enlarged at certain parts to permit of the straps entering the undercut portion, the straps covering the heads of the nails or screws used and preventing them from becoming loosened and the ends of the straps passing through a lead seal which is compressed upon the said ends, substantially as shown and de scribed.

DAVID F. GRIFFITHS.

Witnesses:

J. FRED. ACKER, EDGAR TATE. 

